> It's plausible that well-connected, politically active people would both be likely to donate and likely to be appointed to important positions. Legality here

> It's plausible that well-connected, politically active people would both be likely to donate and likely to be appointed to important positions. Legality here is not my concern. It is like nepotism. Sometimes the son should replace the father on merit. He is, after all, more likely to be active in the field and have connections without trading on his DNA. We still recognize that this cannot be a general rule if we care about outcomes.